“I’m so thirsty for a rom-com"- When Margaret Qualley said she was done with arty movies

Margaret Qualley, celebrated for her nuanced performances in emotionally charged roles, is ready for a change of pace. In a December 28, 2024 interview with Vogue, the actor shared her growing desire to dive into the world of romantic comedies—a genre that would mark a significant departure from her repertoire of intense, critically acclaimed projects.

“I’m so thirsty for a rom-com,” Margaret Qualley said.

For the unversed, Margaret Qualley was last seen in the horror movie, The Substance.

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Margaret Qualley on doing a rom-com movie

Margaret Qualley is strategically selecting her upcoming roles, acknowledging a shift in the kinds of films she wants to be a part of. In her Vogue interview, she admitted that many of the projects she’s been involved in have leaned towards more niche, artistic films movies that, as she candidly shared, don’t align with her personal tastes.

“I’ve been in a lot of obscure, arty films, but they aren’t the kind of movies I enjoy watching myself,” she explained in her interview with Vogue.

Qualley is now looking to take on projects that reflect the type of films she actually wants to watch, adding with humor:

“I want to be in movies where I keep my clothes on and don’t end up dead in the end. My standards are pretty low.”

When it comes to the types of films she’s gravitating toward, romantic comedies are at the top of the list. Qualley shared her admiration for filmmakers like Nancy Meyers and Richard Curtis, whose work in rom-coms like Four Weddings and a Funeral has left a lasting impression on her.

"I’m really eager to do a rom-com, I’m manifesting it."

Qualley also reflected on films that resonate with her deeply, such as Richard Linklater's Boyhood. She connected personally with the film's portrayal of life's changing moments, especially since she was around the same age as the protagonist when her own parents went through a divorce.

"The events in that film mirrored so much of what I went through at the same time," she noted.

Interestingly, Qualley’s journey has come full circle in her career. She auditioned for Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some!! in 2016, but it wasn’t until years later that she worked with both Linklater and actor Ethan Hawke on the film Blue Moon.

She also starred opposite Everybody Wants Some!! actor Blake Jenner in Huntington. Looking back, she sees these connections as an example of how things tend to come together over time.

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What is Margaret Qualley's latest movie The Substance about?

Margaret Qualley's The Substance, is a 2024 body horror film written, directed, co-edited, and co-produced by Coralie Fargeat.

The movie explores the impact of societal pressures on women’s bodies, particularly aging, through the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-famous Hollywood star portrayed by Demi Moore.

Elisabeth, fired from her role on a popular aerobics TV show due to her age, becomes desperate and turns to a black-market serum called The Substance, which promises to restore youth.

The drug creates a younger version of Elisabeth, played by Qualley, but with unforeseen and horrifying consequences.

The film, an international co-production between France, the UK, and the United States, follows the journey of Elisabeth as she battles the side effects of the drug and her increasing resentment towards her younger self.

With the transformation, the two versions of Elisabeth, her original self and the younger persona of Sue, must switch consciousness every week.

The transition is not without its complications, as Sue lives a carefree and hedonistic life while Elisabeth deteriorates, both physically and emotionally.

The film was shot in France over the course of 108 days and utilizes prosthetic makeup, including grotesque suits and hyperrealistic puppets to depict the disturbing transformation of Elisabeth into her younger self.

The production also involved an extensive amount of fake blood around 21,000 liters. The musical score, written by Raffertie, adds to the tension, while the film also features a cover of Pump It Up! by DJ Endor.

The Substance premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered critical attention, with Fargeat winning Best Screenplay.

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Interested viewers can watch Margaret Qualley's The Substance on MUBI.